Movable scaffold support



Feb. 1960 H. R. LAVIOLETTE 2,925,240

MOVABLE SCAFFOLD SUPPORT Filed Sept. 26, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.H\L.LMAM P..LAV\OL.ETTE

AWTCDQNEY-s Feb. 16, 1960 H. R. LAVIOLETTE 2,925,240

MOVABLE SCAFFOLD SUPPORT Filed Sept. 26, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' U0 m I wu f.

Q H Iv F m INVENTOR. HILLMAN RLAwoLETTE ATTO 2N E-Y5 United StatesPatent MOVABLE SCAFFOLD SUPPORT Hillman R. Laviolette, Vidor, Tex.Application September 26, 1958, Serial No. 763,504

4 Claims. (Cl. 248323) This invention relates to scaffolding structures,and more particularly to scaffolding adapted to be suspended fromparallel structural elements, such as I-beams, or the like, to supportworkmen in painting or performing other required operations in abuilding structure.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedscaffolding structure which involves simple components, which is easy toset up for use, and which is easy to adjust in position so that it maybe readily moved along a building structure which is being painted orupon which other repair or maintenance operations are being performed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved scaffoldingstructure which involves inexpensive components, which is rugged inconstruction, which is safe to use, and which provides a great saving intime and labor required to paint or perform other operations on abuilding structure.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scaffolding strucure according tothe present invention, shown suspended from a pair of parallel I-beams.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the line2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 3--3 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 44of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the improved scaffolding structure isdesignated generally at 11 and comprises a pair of carriage members 12,12, each carriage member comprising a rigid frame element 13 having agen erally U-shaped outer configuration and formed integrally with acentral frame member 14 and a pair of transversely extending crossmembers 15 and 16 connecting the end portions of the central element 14to the side arm portions of the U-shaped outer part of the frame 13. Thetop end of the intermediate element 14 projects above the upper crossbar 16, as shown at 17, and is formed with an upstanding pivot lug 18 towhich are pivotally connected the arms 19 and 20 for rotation in a planetransverse to the plane of the frame member 13, as is clearly apparentfrom Figure 1. Pivotally connected to the top ends of the respectivearms 19 and 20 are the respective generally L-shaped block members 21and 22, said block members being threadedly engaged by the oppositelythreaded end portions 23 and 24 of a tie rod 25. As shown the tie rod 25is provided with the enlarged mid portion 26, serving as a handle forrotating the tie rod to adjust the spacing between the block members 21and 22.

Journaled to the respective block members 21 and 22 are the respectivehorizontally flanged rollers 27 and 28, said rollers having the enlargedcircular top flanges 29 and 30 engageable on the top surfaces of thebottom flanges 31 of the I-beams 32 of a building structure, as

shown in Figure 1. As will be readily apparent, the tie rod 25 may berotated to cause the rollers 27 and 28 to closely engage the edgeportions of the bottom flanges 31 of the I-beams so as to retain eachcarriage engaged with an associated I-beam and whereby to support theassociated frame 13 and the load carried thereby.

The side arms of the U-shaped outer portion of each frame member 13 isformed with the outwardly projecting lugs 33, 33, and threadedly engagedthrough the lugs 33 are the respective vertical shaft members 34, 34.Rotatably secured to the top ends of the shaft members 34, 34 are therespective block elements 35, 35, and journaled to the block elements onopposite sides thereof are the respective pairs of rollers 36, 36adapted to engage the underside of the associated I-beam 32.

Thus, each of the threaded shaft members 34 is provided with atransversely extending bottom handle 37 which may be employed to adjustthe shaft members so that the associated pair of rollers 36, 36 closelyengages with the under surface of the I-beam 32 on which the associatedcarriage assembly is mounted, whereby to assure that the carriageengages the bottom flange 31 of the I-beam without excessive looseness,whereby to insure that the carriage member will move smoothly and freelyalong the I-beam.

As shown in Figure 4, ball bearing assemblies 38 are preferably employedwith the horizontally flanged rollers 30 and 29, and similar ballbearing assemblies may be employed with the rollers 36.

As shown in Figure 1, a platform member 39 is supportingly engaged inthe lower portion of the pair of frame members 13, 13 the platformmember 39 having its respective ends engaged between the lower cross barelements 15 and the bight portions 40 of the respective frame member 13.

As shown in Figure 3, the spacing between the rollers 27 and 28 may bereadily adjusted by rotating the tie rod 25, whereby to separate orbring together the respective block members 21 and 22, depending uponthe direction of rotation of the handle element 26 of the tie rod. Thus,the carriage member may be readily engaged on the bottom flange of anI-beam and may be adjusted to closely interfit therewith. After therollers 28 and 27 have been engaged with the edge portions of the I-beam bottom flange in the manner illustrated in Figure 3, the respectivepairs of bottom bearing rollers 36, 36 may be adjusted upwardly toclosely engage with the under surface of the I-beam in the manner abovedescribed, to insure smooth movement of the associated carriageassembly. Thus, with the scaffolding structure installed in the mannershown in Figure l, the structure may be readily moved along the I-beam32 so that the painting or other operation being performed may progresscontinuously without requiring reconstruction or other modification ofthe scaffolding until the entire length of the building structure hasbeen traversed, after which the scaffolding structure may be moved tothe next portion of the building on which the operations are to beperformed.

While a specific embodiment of an improved scaffolding structure hasbeen disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood thatvarious modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitationsbe placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a scaffolding structure, a carriage member comprising a rigidframe element, a pair of arms pivoted to said frame element, horizontalflanged rollers journaled on said arms and being engageable over theopposite edges of the bottom flange of an I-beam, means adjustablyconnecting the upper portions of said arms together, verticallyadjustable support elements on said frame element on opposite sides ofthe arms, bearing rollers journaled on said support elements and beingengageable with the underside of the I-beam, and means on the lowerportion of the frame element adapted to supportingly engage a platformmember.

2. In a scaffolding structure, a carriage member comprising a rigidframe element, a pair of arms pivoted to the upper intermediate portionof the frame element for rotation in a plane transverse to the frameelement, horizontally flanged rollers journaled to the top ends of saidarms and being engageable over the opposite edges of the bottom flangeof an I-beam, means adjustably connecting the upper portions of saidarms together, vertically adjustable upstanding support elements on saidframe element on opposite sides of the arms, bearing rollers journaledon said support elements and being engageable with the underside of theI-beam, and means on the lower portion of the frame element adapted tosupportingly engage a platform member.

3. In a scaffolding structure, a carriage member comprising a rigidframe element, a pair of arms pivoted to the upper intermediate portionof the frame element for rotation in a plane transverse to the plane ofthe frame element, horizontally flanged rollers journaled to the topends of said arms and being engageable over the opposite edge portionsof the bottom flange of an I-beam, a tie rod having oppositely threadedend portions threadedly engaged with and adjustably connecting the upperportions of said arms, vertically adjustable upstanding support elementsthreadedly engaged with said frame element on opposite sides of thearms, bearing rollers journaled on said support elements and beingengageable with the underside of the I-beam, and means on the lowerportion of the frame element adapted to supportingly engage a platformmember.

4. In a scaffolding structure, a carriage member comprising a rigidvertical frame element, a pair of arms extending upwardly and outwardlyin opposite directions from and pivoted to the upper intermediateportion of the frame element for rotation in a vertical plane transverseto the vertical plane of the frame element, horizontally flangedhorizontal rollers journaled to'the top ends of said arms and beingengageable over the respective opposite edge portions of the bottomflange of an I-beam, a horizontal tie rod having oppositely threaded endportions threadedly engaged with and adjustably connecting the upperportions of said arms, vertically adjustable upstanding vertical supportrods threadedly engaged with said frame element on opposite sides of thearms, bearing rollers journaled on the top ends of said support rods andbeing engageable with the underside of the I-beam, and means on thelower portion of the frame element adapted to supportingly engage aplatform member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,229,015 King Jan. 14, 1941 2,744,472 Symans May 8, 1956 2,761,396Harlan Sept. 4, 1956

